Sleep disorders and circadian clock disruption in Alzheimers disease and other dementias of aging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | PAR 18 497

Opportunity Information: Apply for PAR 18 497

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding opportunity PAR-18-497, titled "Sleep disorders and circadian clock disruption in Alzheimers disease and other dementias of aging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)," supports research projects that investigate how sleep deficiency and disruptions of the circadian clock relate to Alzheimers disease and other age-related dementias. The central purpose is to move the science forward on both the causes and the downstream consequences of impaired sleep and altered circadian biology in these conditions, while also clarifying whether sleep and circadian processes actively modify the pace or severity of neurodegeneration. In practical terms, NIH is looking for studies that can explain how and why sleep and circadian dysregulation occur in dementia, what biological damage or functional changes they contribute to, and whether these disturbances are simply symptoms or meaningful drivers of disease progression.

The FOA emphasizes mechanistic and integrative approaches, specifically calling out molecular, cellular, genetic, epigenetic, and systems biology strategies. That framing signals an interest in research that can connect multiple levels of biology, for example linking gene regulation or epigenetic changes to neuronal or glial function, circuit-level dysfunction, and measurable sleep or circadian phenotypes. Projects might focus on pathways that regulate sleep-wake states, circadian timing, or homeostatic sleep pressure, and how those pathways interact with hallmark processes of neurodegeneration such as protein aggregation, synaptic loss, neuroinflammation, vascular contributions, or metabolic stress. The opportunity is also positioned to support work that uses modern, data-rich methods (for example multi-omics, network biology, computational modeling, or longitudinal biomarker integration) to map relationships between circadian disruption, sleep fragmentation, and dementia-related changes over time.

While the scope includes both basic and clinical research, the announcement is explicit that it uses the R01 mechanism and is "Clinical Trial Not Allowed." That means applicants may propose studies involving human participants, patient cohorts, or clinical samples as long as the work does not meet NIH’s definition of a clinical trial, such as prospectively assigning people to an intervention to evaluate health outcomes. In other words, observational studies, mechanistic studies using patient-derived biospecimens, or studies that characterize sleep and circadian measures in relation to biomarkers of neurodegeneration can fit, but interventional trials testing a treatment or behavior change as an assigned condition would not be responsive under this specific FOA.

This is a discretionary grant program in the health category under CFDA 93.866, administered by NIH. The listed award ceiling is $500,000, indicating NIH expects projects to be designed within that upper budget boundary as stated in the source summary. The original closing date shown is 2020-11-06, and the FOA record indicates a creation date of 2017-12-15, reflecting when this opportunity was initially posted.

Eligibility is broad and includes many types of U.S. organizations as well as certain non-U.S. entities. Eligible applicants include state, county, city, township, and special district governments; independent school districts; public and state-controlled institutions of higher education; private institutions of higher education; federally recognized Native American tribal governments; tribal organizations that are not federally recognized tribal governments; public housing authorities and Indian housing authorities; nonprofits with and without 501(c)(3) status (outside of higher education); for-profit organizations other than small businesses; small businesses; and other applicant types. The FOA also explicitly highlights additional eligible applicant categories such as Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institutions; Asian American, Native American, and Pacific Islander Serving Institutions (AANAPISIs); Hispanic-serving Institutions; Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities (TCCUs); faith-based or community-based organizations; eligible federal agencies; regional organizations; U.S. territories or possessions; and non-domestic (non-U.S.) entities, meaning foreign organizations can apply when permitted under NIH policy for this announcement.

Overall, the opportunity is aimed at deepening the scientific understanding of how sleep and circadian biology intersect with the mechanisms of Alzheimers disease and related dementias of aging. Competitive applications would be expected to present clear mechanistic hypotheses, strong study designs aligned with non-clinical-trial requirements, and compelling plans to illuminate whether sleep and circadian disruptions are contributors to neurodegenerative progression, markers of underlying pathology, or both.

• The National Institutes of Health in the health sector is offering a public funding opportunity titled "Sleep disorders and circadian clock disruption in Alzheimers disease and other dementias of aging (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed)" and is now available to receive applicants.
• Interested and eligible applicants and submit their applications by referencing the CFDA number(s): 93.866.
• This funding opportunity was created on 2017-12-15.
• Applicants must submit their applications by 2020-11-06. (Agency may still review applications by suitable applicants for the remaining/unused allocated funding in 2026.)
• Each selected applicant is eligible to receive up to $500,000.00 in funding.
• Eligible applicants include: State governments, County governments, City or township governments, Special district governments, Independent school districts, Public and State controlled institutions of higher education, Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized), Public housing authorities/Indian housing authorities, Native American tribal organizations (other than Federally recognized tribal governments), Nonprofits having a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Nonprofits that do not have a 501 (c) (3) status with the IRS, other than institutions of higher education, Private institutions of higher education, For-profit organizations other than small businesses, Small businesses, Others.

Apply for PAR 18 497

[Watch] Creating a grant proposal using the step-by-step wizard inside the applicant portal: